UPDATE: Uber Issued Taxi Brokerage License

The company confirmed on Friday afternoon that it has been issued a taxi brokerage license by the city of Toronto, after submitting an application in May of last year.

The license will cover Uber Taxi, a service which allows customers to use the Uber app to order licensed cabs like Beck or Co-Op.

It will not however, cover the controversial Uber-X, which links riders with unlicensed drivers using their own personal vehicles.

In a statement issued on Friday, Uber Canada spokesperson Susie Heath said that ”this is another step towards our participation in a comprehensive regulatory solution that includes ride-sharing,” adding that “we will continue to work with the City of Toronto towards new regulations for ride-sharing, which are expected in the coming months.”

There have been repeated calls for the ride share to cease operations while regulations were worked out by the city, which would bring the service in line with the city’s cabs, with taxi drivers saying that it’s continued operation is threatening their livelihoods.

A report on the matter is due to be presented to the city’s Licensing and Standards Committee in the spring.

Meanwhile at City Hall, Councillor Jim Karygiannis today brought forward a motion to the licensing committee, asking the city to seek a court injunction against Uber and Uber X drivers.

That motion has been passed and will now go to council.

Karygiannis has been a vocal opponent of the ride sharing app, and champion of the taxi industry since taking a seat in city council.